Follow These 10 Steps to Manage Time and Attendance in Your Organization

When children are in school they often get gold stars or other rewards for good behavior, like having excellent time and attendance numbers. As adults our incentive is a paycheck. However, for some employees that is not enough. When employees don’t show up, it affects production, morale, and can become contagious. Poor attendance it isn’t just about gold stars; it is about being fully staffed to efficiently run a business. Being fully staffed increases sales and customer satisfaction. The following steps will keep your staff time and attendance on track.

1 – Be Attendance Policy Knowledgeable

Know the attendance policies of the organization. Consult with human resources and find out if there is a streamlined version of the policies that is easy to share and easy to learn. Remembering the basics and being able to easily access resources regarding details is vital before approaching employees.

2 – Review Attendance Expectations Regularly

This should be a pro-active step, don’t wait until there is high absenteeism. Keep the policy fresh in all employees’ minds. Review the benefits of showing up at work when scheduled and working the full shift. Communications can be done by posting policies, through emails, and during meetings. Handing out a small card with attendance expectations for employees to keep in their wallet can be helpful, as well. Not everyone is motivated by pay, so for some you will need to get to know them and find out what motivates them. Tying attendance to recognition, bonuses, awards, or a promotion can be just the incentive some people need to put out the extra effort to make it to work.

3 – Share Expectations

Illness, death, and other life changing events happen that cause employees to miss work. There are also those who just choose to do something more fun instead. Each absence must be dealt with appropriately while making sure it is clearly communicated what the expectation is. Sharing resources offered by the company and the community can often prevent repeated attendance issues when hard times hit an employee.

4 – Handle Absenteeism Promptly

For some employees, once they think they got away with not showing up for work, it is the beginning of habitual absenteeism. For others, missing work is rare and doesn’t repeat. In all cases when an employee is absent, promptly addressing it can reveal what the cause is and what can be done to minimize it in the future. For those who are habitually missing work or have a pattern developing, continued evaluation of how the attendance expectation is being met will prevent surprises when there is disciplinary action needed.

5 – Prepare for Non-Compliance

Be familiar with the steps that are necessary when there is non-compliance with the attendance policy. This isn’t needed for those who occasionally miss work, but it is needed for the habitually absent ones. Knowing the procedure before it is needed will assure a smooth transition through the stages when employees chose to continue to be absent from work.

6 – Maintain Consistency When Addressing Time and Attendance

Showing favoritism is as damaging as doing nothing about attendance problems. All employees in each work group should have the same attendance expectations and be held accountable. When some employees are disciplined and others are not, it can create an environment where people will take their chances. When everyone knows absenteeism is not tolerated few will test the system.

7 – Leave a Paper Trail

Document all meetings regarding lack of attendance. It is a serious matter and should be treated as such. With every step followed, it will be easier to take disciplinary steps if needed. It can also reveal a situation that a leave of absence might be needed until a personal issue or illness has passed.

8 – Know Who Has Your Back

Make sure that your superior and Human Resources are on the same page with you. When you have to follow through with disciplinary actions, will they be there for you? If not, do what you need to so they will be.

9 – Follow Up Regularly with Those at Risk

When you know an employee is going through something or has a tendency to be absent, be in regular communication. A little support at work is often all they need to get themselves together to make it in for their shift.

10 – Set Up a Reward System

A paycheck and a job is a reward for showing up for work, but further recognition is useful. Have drawings for prizes and rewards to recognize those who are coming into work regularly. Good behavior that is noticed will be repeated.

All absenteeism cannot be prevented but it can be minimized by following the above steps. Not only can a company have gold star attendance, these steps can be used for lack of schedule adherence, also.

This content was provided by Neches FCU, an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Credit Union.
Neches FCU is a Texas credit union and has a superior team of professionals ready to deliver service their members. When the doors open at any of the 9 service centers, our core objective of “Ultimate Member Satisfaction” becomes the sole focus for every employee. They are well-respected for a personal, dynamic and enthusiastic work atmosphere, providing a memorable service experience, and where clients are known by name. Neches has approximately $438 Million in assets with over 45,000 members. Neches Federal Credit Union is acknowledged by members and the business community as one of the top credit unions in texas and an actively involved partner, helping our Family, Friends and Community!

Ways to Increase Your CPA Practice’s Visibility In A Small Town

Small town CPA

A small town CPA Firm needs to increase visibility to increase their business. Whether the small town is a rural setting like Mayberry, or a more urbanized but walkable community, the ways to make yourself stand out are the same. Both communities can be close knit and for a new CPA firm coming into the area gaining traction can be hard to begin with. These tips will help get your firm known.

Civic Groups

Most small communities have some civic groups like the Rotary Club, Jaycees, Elks and other civic, fraternal or social organizations. Many of these groups look for experts to come in and give talks on issues important to them. As a small business and tax expert, you are uniquely qualified to render general presentations on these subjects. You may also consider letting these groups know that you are available as a fill-in speaker should their scheduled guest have to cancel at the last minute.

Churches

Churches

Even if you are not a member of a specific worship community, there are ways to make yourself known. Many churches sell advertising space in their weekly bulletins or monthly newsletters and a business card sized ad seen repetitiously can build a clientele over time. Also, as with civic groups, you can offer to give presentations to the various groups within the church.

Country and Sports Clubs

Joining a country club can be a great way of networking with higher wealth community members. In addition, don’t forget some of the other sports clubs that maybe around like the tennis or racquet club, sometimes the local marina has a member supported organization. Whatever your sports interest may be, there is probably a group with a similar interest.

Local Coffee Shops

Local Coffee Shops and Diners

A strong tradition in many small communities is the local diner. By hanging out in these places on a regular basis, you will become a fixture and can generate a lot of business and referrals just by having your morning coffee.

Civic Involvement

Another tradition in small towns is the fire department. Often staffed with a couple of paid professional firefighters, but most of the department is made up from volunteers. The fire house is often a local gathering spot and usually hosts pancake breakfasts and BBQ’s as fundraisers. Small towns also offer other opportunities to volunteer and depending on your individual interest you can find a place to fit in while serving a community need.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships

Small towns normally have a very active youth sports program. Whether it is Little League, Pop Warner football, soccer or basketball there are opportunities to sponsor a team. In return, you get your name or logo placed on the uniforms and sometimes on a banner hanging on the sidelines. Go to the games and you will be able to network with the parents.

Local Media

The local newspapers frequently need content to fill their pages. Call the local editor after looking through the paper for a few weeks and offer to write a regular column on small business or tax issues. The exposure will be invaluable.

Signage

Signage

Park benches, shopping carts and local buses and taxi cabs are great places to put up signs. If you are willing to invest a few hours of sweat, many towns sponsor a road cleanup program. In exchange for picking up litter a few times a year, you get a highly visible road sign seen by drivers every time they pass by.

Your Office Location

An office space on the busy main street will do a couple of things to increase your business. The main street location will be highly visible to locals as they go about their daily business. Plus the fact you are on Main Street gives your image a boost. Successful firms have prestigious addresses, and in a small town that is usually the central main street business district.

Entertaining at your home

Entertaining

Use your home and even your office if it is large enough to regularly have parties and cookouts. During the holiday season, open your office up for a Cider and Hot Chocolate social, during the summer invite clients and guests to your home for a BBQ. Throw a Super Bowl or World Series watch party.

It is important to remember that especially in a small community environment that relationships are taken very seriously, and if you come across as too pushy, then the relationship may never get the chance to take off. But if you are sincere and personable in your networking through all of these ideas, then the client relationships you build will be solid and long lasting.

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